With MLS finale the priority, Dynamo OK with Champions League tie

Updated 8:50 pm, Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Andrew Driver is one of the Dynamo backups who will see action tonight in Panama.

Andrew Driver is one of the Dynamo backups who will see action tonight in Panama.

Photo: Bob Levey, Photographer

With MLS finale the priority, Dynamo OK with Champions League tie

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Because of the respect he has for his entire roster, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear would never say Thursday night's CONCACAF Champions League match is not nearly as important to him as Sunday's regular-season MLS finale at D.C. United.

Rest assured, however, Kinnear has always made it clear that his top goal has been and will always be the MLS Cup final. The two-time defending Eastern Conference champions will play their two most crucial matches of the year in the span of four days on the road, beginning with a Champions League match Thursday night at Panama's Arabe Unibo and ending with the MLS finale Sunday afternoon.

The Dynamo need only a tie to advance in Champions League, but they likely need a victory Sunday to reach the MLS playoffs. Midfielders Brad Davis and Boniek Garcia, center back Jermaine Taylor and forward Brian Ching are the only key players Kinnear didn't take to Panama.

At mercy of others

The rest of the regular starters traveled, but Kinnear is unlikely to start more than two of the regulars he used in the devastating 3-0 loss Sunday against the New York Red Bulls. The last match robbed the Dynamo of control of their playoff destiny. They need help from other teams this weekend to reach the playoffs for the third consecutive year and the seventh time in eight years.

"I think obviously, from the poor result of getting beat over the weekend, we need a chance to forget about the loss as much as possible and get a bit of confidence back," said backup midfielder Andrew Driver, who likely will start Thursday. "We started to get ourselves on a nice run, and obviously, it came crashing down.

"We just need to get a good feeling around the place back again.."

The two-time MLS Cup champions and four-time finalists have been one of the league's dominant teams since winning a pair of titles in their first two seasons in Houston in 2006 and 2007.

They reached the MLS Cup last year as the fifth and final seed in the East.

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Dynamo update: Midfielders Brad Davis (U.S.) and Boniek Garcia (Honduras) and center back Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica) were left behind to rest after a long stint on international duty before they had rejoined the team in time for last Sunday's loss.

Arabe Unido update: Arabe needs a victory to advance past the group stage in the Champions League.

Proving ground

The Dynamo's depth has been tested often this year because of injuries and international call-ups.

Stellar performances in Panama could earn some of the players important minutes in D.C. on Sunday and in the MLS playoffs if the Dynamo qualify.

"We've got a strong team," Driver said. "I think throughout the season we've shown that. At times, a lot of the first team has been missing, and we've gotten some decent results.

"Obviously, it's a chance for the guys who haven't been getting as many minutes to go and get a bit of confidence and really stake a claim for the rest of the season.

"We've got a massive game for the weekend, and you want to show that you can step up."